Portrait

Starry Island

With over 40% of the park water, Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota has hundreds of islands that dot the area. Pictured here is Bittersweet Island on Kabetogama Lake just off the shore from my camping spot. Through the dense forest, I was able to find a small beach to enjoy the night sky. Stars were shining bright and the Milky Way was splashed across the sky. With the area being so heavily forested, I could hear wolves in the distance howling. Just a few hours earlier, I had a long conversation with a park ranger about wolves, so the sound of howling brought everything into perspective. Truly a unique area and even more unique park, this National Park is one for the books.

Otter Point Sunrise

With Otter Point in the distance, I watched the sky as the deep, vibrant colors changed before my eyes. Shades of orange and purple lit up the sky and danced on the moving ocean. Waves were crashing and salty air wrapped around me like a blanket. Watching the sunrise in Acadia National Park in Maine became a favorite activity of mine while camping there. It felt as if the day could only get better.

Splash of Fall Colors

Standing high on Middle Sugarloaf Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I catch my breath from the steep hike only to realize my breath is being taken away again...by the view. Thousands of color-changing trees are sprawled out below me. Using the zoom on my camera, I decide to focus on the details of one, small section. Each individual tree can be seen, but from afar, it's a vibrant splash of fall colors.

Graveyard of the Great Lakes

During my three week stay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I got to see Lake Superior in all kinds of different weather. More often times than not, the wind was strong and the waves were plentiful. But on this beautiful night, Lake Superior was calm. The water was gently lapping against the old wooden pylons as the sun set in the distance. Taken in Whitefish Point, which is also known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes with more than 300 shipwrecks and accidents, I couldn't help but think about the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck a few miles offshore and what the waves must have been like on that sad day in 1975.

Dancing Northern Lights

Sitting on the beach at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I watch the sky intently and wait for the forecasted Northern Lights to appear. I have never seen them before so this is a big moment for me. I also don't know what to expect and what they look like. Suddenly as the sky gets darker with each hour of the sunset and the Milky Way begins to illuminate, I see a glow in the distance that seems to radiate and pulse with the color green. I can't believe my eyes! I realize that watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky is one of the most calming and beautiful moments.

River in the Badlands

Known for its open plains, stunning badlands, roaming wildlife, and remote ruggedness, Theordore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota made an everlasting impression on me. Every lookout, every corner, every view, I was truly in awe at the vastness and openness. Here the Little Missouri River snakes through the badlands during a beautiful golden hour before sunset. Although not the focus of the picture, a tiny, faraway deer can be spotted on the riverbank showing just how enormous the landscape is.

Foggy Big Sur

Fog seems to be the common theme along the Big Sur coastline in California, but it only adds to the magic and beauty of this landscape. McWay Falls is a sight to behold as the waterfall cascades down into the ocean.

Single Joshua Tree

A single Joshua Tree sits among the vast land. The desert sunset deepens the colors and brings out hues of pink and blue.

Foggy Needles Highway

Needles Highway in South Dakota on a foggy day, this view is one of many on this beautiful road. Super narrow tunnels and lots of twisty curves, you never know what you are going to see around the next corner.

Hawaiian Waterfall

Exploring Hanalei Bay in Kauai, I was greeted with a dramatic landscape full of tall waterfalls, moody clouds, and lush greenery. The ocean was directly behind me while taking this photo and I can still feel the sand between my toes.

Sunburst Cabin in the Fall

One of the few historical structures left in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. The warm sun was shining through the colorful trees on this beautiful fall day. Photographing sunbursts is one of my favorite challenges when the conditions are right and it adds to the feeling of the photo.

Blue Sand Dollar Beach

Standing high on the cliffs over Sand Dollar Beach in Big Sur, I watched as waves crashed over the rocks below. Within minutes, storm clouds rolled in and rain started pouring. Laughing, I gathered up my gear and quickly ran back to my campsite.

Stormy Golden Hour

A dark grey storm looms in the background while golden hour settles on this Joshua Tree.

Badwater Basin Sunset

Among all the beautiful sunsets I’ve witnessed, one of my favorites was at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park. Seeing the salt flats go on for miles with all kinds of patterns was a neat experience. The salt crunches under your feet and before you know it, your shoes are bright white from the salt. The mountains in the distance look so close yet so far. Depth perception is tricky in Death Valley. And lastly, at 282 feet below sea level, it’s the lowest point in North America!

Foggy Mountain Creek

Spending two weeks in the Great Smoky Mountains during fall allowed me to experience all kinds of different weather. One day I woke up to rain and fog, but set off on a hike anyway. As I made my way down the slippery trail with fallen leaves everywhere, I came upon this beautiful mountain creek. The sound of the water combined with the cool mountain air was enough to make me sit and enjoy the scenery.

Starry Palm Tree

While in Belize for a scuba diving trip, I captured this palm tree against the starry night sky. The sea breeze was blowing gently and the moon was resting in the background.

Galveston Sunset

Camping in Galveston State Park, I enjoyed daily walks on the beach during sunset and watching the birds dance with the waves. After the sunset, the sky took on beautiful hues of pink while the ocean turned a vibrant blue. This sandpiper seemed content as he frolicked around in the water.

South Dakota Road

Driving around Custer State Park in South Dakota, some of the roads blend into the sky. This squiggly road caught my attention as it carved through the grassland. The never ending sky on top gives the picture a minimalist look. Wherever this road leads to is limited by your imagination.

South Dakota Bison

Custer State Park in South Dakota is well known for large numbers of bison roaming throughout the park. I spotted this bison lazily grazing on some grass. The air was still and the day was foggy. I watched him for a few minutes before leaving him in peace.

Portrait of a Bison

This guy was fun to watch and capture. I nicknamed him "Scratchy" because when I first saw him, he was scratching himself against a big concrete block. I love how he has grass all over him as he makes eye contact with me.

Bison Against the Denver Skyline

Every time I visit Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, I take my time driving around and really take in the landscape and the animals. The bison are my favorite animals to capture. Here I captured a bison against the Denver skyline.

Follow the Fence to Fall

As I was driving through Guanella Pass on a beautiful fall day, this fence on the side of the road got my attention. I pulled over and captured the fence leading the way to the bright yellow leaves of fall.

Sun Glare Road

One of my favorite things about capturing sun glare is that it's always different with no two pictures alike. As I stood on this road in Grand Teton National Park for the sunrise, I let the sun catch the side of my camera giving the road and the trees a soft look.

From the Far East to the Far West

Standing on this road in the far east of Denver, the sunset illuminated the mountains in the far west. Airplanes were flying overhead as they took off and land at nearby Denver International Airport. Surrounding me in every direction were the flat plains of eastern Colorado.